Inspired by the truth – NaPoWriMo Day25

Posted on April 25, 2011 by moonbridgebooks

I’ve been reading some good reviews of The Bird Sisters, local author Rebecca Rasmussen’s debut novel of place and family, based on her family and her place growing up in rural Wisconsin. She wondered, “what if…” Maybe, just for fun, you can invite some of the people in your life into a new story. Cloud their true identities and stretch your imagination. As a nonfiction writer, I have a huge respect for fiction writers. I’ve been trying my hand at flash (super short) fiction based on real life to pull more creativity out of my hat. It’s good exercise for the brain, and some of us really need that.

What if my childhood was less than ideal?
Oh, yeah – it was.
What if I didn’t get along with my sister?
Oh, yeah – I didn’t.
What if I wasn’t so popular?
Oh, yeah – I wasn’t.
What if I wrote a different story?
You mean – tell the truth?

Linda Austin
“Cherry Blossoms in Twilight”
http://www.moonbridgebooks.com

Posted in memoir writing, poems | Comments Off on Inspired by the truth – NaPoWriMo Day25

Easter? What Easter? Writing the holidays – NaPoWriMo Day24

Posted on April 25, 2011 by moonbridgebooks

My mom, who has Alzheimers, couldn’t remember doing anything special for our childhood Easters. I had to remind her of the glazed ham with raisin sauce, the candied sweet potatoes, the dyed eggs and deviled eggs, the egg hunts and Easter baskets full of candies and treats. Holiday traditions are great events to write into life stories, and I personally think everyone should include some recipes of the foods they grew up with. I’m including the raisin sauce recipe in case you want to sweeten up your ham leftovers.

Raisin sauce

1 cup water
4 Tbs butter
½ cup white sugar
2 Tbsp flour
¼ cup raisins
Salt, nutmeg

Melt butter and sugar in saucepan with the water. Shake flour (or cornstarch) with a little water in a small container, add to simmering sauce to thicken. Add raisins, touch of salt and nutmeg.

Raisin sauce with ham
Deviled eggs and yam,
And after the dishes are cleared
Don’t forget the choco bunny ears.

Linda Austin
“Cherry Blossoms in Twilight”
http://www.moonbridgebooks.com
Posted in holiday, poems, recipe | 1 Comment

Your hobbies help define you – NaPoWriMo Day23

Posted on April 23, 2011 by moonbridgebooks

This morning I was in charge of the face painting table at the church’s Easter Egg hunt extravaganza sponsored by the youths. Thought I’d have to help paint a couple hundred little faces, but once the paints were set out plenty of teens zoomed in to take over. I am pretty much retired from professional face painting – it can be hard on the back – but I have loved it. Very rewarding to see eyes light up and hear the awed thanks from happy kids, and I don’t have to worry where to put the art I make as it just walks away. So creative, too: “Can you do a princess?” “Will you make me into a tiger?” “I want a turkey.” Well, there was that one time I turned a little boy into a tiger and he was afraid of himself and had to have his face washed off. Do you have a hobby you love? If so, that’s a part of who you are, probably more so than a tedious job. Maybe you want to mention it in your life story.

There is a special joy
In creating.
Something comes of nothing
And someone is happy,
Even if it’s only you.

(Gogyohka is a recent poetic form from Japan, easy for anyone to write. Five lines. That’s it!)

Linda Austin
“Cherry Blossoms in Twilight”
http://www.moonbridgebooks.com
Posted in poems, writing prompt | Comments Off on Your hobbies help define you – NaPoWriMo Day23